Precious Metal Customs: Hundred Grand

Story and Photos by Daniel Predoi

Gold, silver, and platinum: these metals have been captivating man since the dawn of time and have been a symbol of social status and beauty. Almost exclusively, all jewelry is made out of these metals.

Few would consider steel a precious metal, but when Russ Austin of Precious Metal Customs in Atlanta, Georgia, uses steel to create true mechanical jewels it makes you think twice about what’s considered precious. Rings, bracelets, and other jewelry fascinate women, but like the majority of men, my fascination lies elsewhere. For Russ, passion for motorcycles started in childhood and has something to do with beauty. When I say beauty, I don’t mean art or jewelry, but the beauty of the opposite sex. “I was 15-years-old when my dad bought me my first motorcycle, a Honda Rebel 250,” says Russ. “One afternoon when we were riding together and were stopped at a traffic light, I heard a loud sound like thunder coming from behind us. In a few seconds about 20 Harleys surrounded us. I was really nervous and was afraid to even turn my head and look at the guy next to me. Finally I got the nerve to look to my right, and to my surprise I saw a fabulous woman who smiled and waved to me. That was a decisive moment for me. Since then the motorcycle has been an integral part of my life.” His passion for motorcycles became a career and his company is well respected in the American custom industry. His latest bike, Hundred Grand, is surely his most avant-garde project to date and represents his custom vision: everything reduced to essence, extreme simplicity, and aggressive lines.

Design inspiration often comes from an unexpected source. For Hundred Grand, his muse was cinematography. “When I conceptualize a new design, I don’t look to the world of motorcycles,” says Russ. “I look for inspiration in other fields like architecture, art, or in this case, movies. I wanted the aspect of this design to be similar to the creature from Alien. If you look closely at the fuel tank, you see it has the shape of the creature’s head.” A “scary” movie idea gave birth to a motorcycle of equal measure with a rigid skeleton frame called Spoon Style. The fork is an inverted American Suspension Phantom. Extreme Machine wheels present the same minimalist line as the rest of the motorcycle. As far as propulsion goes, a 113” H&L was the perfect choice. It’s hard to ignore the Lethal Injection exhaust for long: they look good and the sound is killer. To add a little style and some extra cooling, the cylinders are diamond cut. The mounting and shape of the gas tank enhances the lines of the frame and the builder’s desire to make the design flow. Where the fork ends, the profoundly arched fuel tank starts, creating the impression of continuity. In case of rain, it is recommended to postpone the ride. The reason, as you probably already guessed, is a lack of fenders. Since the beginning, all the creations by Precious Metal Customs lacked fenders, a decision that I consider to be, at the very least, bold. I am not the only one with that view, as Russ sees it that same way. “Many years ago when I started building motorcycles without fenders, it was viewed with skepticism,” he says. “It was unusual and, at the same time, very risky for me. I remember one well-known builder telling me that I must be crazy to consider something like that. But it proved to be a good choice. Everybody that came to me to build them a motorcycle appreciated this concept. And by the way, the latest creations of the builder that was so negative about my idea all have no fenders.”

A stand-alone taillight was replaced by LEDs mounted directly into the frame behind the Russ-built seat. Alongside all his other accomplishments, he can add upholstery. As far as the paint scheme, nothing extravagant to mention. The frame was powdercoated by Liquid Illusions with a neutral color called Raw Titanium. The fuel tank and the battery case (located behind the transmission) were also powdercoated. Personally, I think Hundred Grand places Precious Metal Customs in a category of builders apart from the rest. Even their slogan, “Going where angels fear to tread,” announces you’re entering the domain of non-conventional. It was interesting to find out how Russ came to choose this slogan. “I was talking with my father one day about my ideas and plans for my company. He’s a conservative man who take big risks and after he listened to me he said, ‘Son, take it easy! You’re going where angels fear to tread,’ ” Russ says.

Because Russ built Hundred Grand for his personal use, he wasn’t influenced by outside interests or customer needs. When you build something you truly love and it’s you through-and-through, the time and money invested don’t seem to be that important and the finished bike is invaluable. You’re probably wondering what it would cost to own this motorcycle. Maybe a Hundred Grand?